Quake Hits Northwest China; More Than 80 Dead

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A 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook an impoverished region in the mountains of Gansu Province near Dingxi, China, reportedly killing at least 89 people. According to media, more than 500 people were injured and more than a dozen are missing after the 7:45 A.M. (Beijing time) quake destroyed buildings and caused landslides. A 5.6 magnitude earthquake was later reported in the same region about an hour and a half later, and about 422 aftershocks further crumbled rooftops and cut telecommunication lines. "More than 21,000 buildings were severely damaged and more than 1,200 have collapsed," said a local government official at the provincial earthquake bureau.

Residents near the quake took to the internet to share their experiences. On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, one user wrote that they were brushing their teeth when they felt a shake. "Turns out it was an earthquake, sigh, seems that with the huge rain downpour outside, we really don't know how much longer this planet is going to let us live here," they continued. Li Jingui, 21, was in a school dorm in Dingxi when the quake hit. "I saw the bulb hanging from the ceiling start swinging wildly around. I woke my two friends and we ran into the bathroom to hide."

President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort, urging teams to save lives and minimize casualties. Heavy rains are expected to slow down crews who are navigating through the rubble to assist victims. Meanwhile, hospitals set up help stations in parking lots to treat the injured, and the Chinese Red Cross shipped 200 tents and thousands of household and clothing items to the area. "We quickly assembled relief staff and rescue equipment as soon as we received the order," said Su Wei, commander of a 120-member rescue team. "It will take us about 2 hours to get there because landslides have blocked the roads and are slowing us down. We will do everything we can to rescue the people there."

Our thoughts are with all the people affected by this natural disaster.